For Cal State Fullerton doctoral student Fajer Al Najjar, her pathway to a nursing career began in a war-torn country, where she often changed schools to flee the impact of war.
“It was hard to feel like I belonged anywhere. I constantly had to adapt to new environments. Looking back, those experiences helped shape who I am,” said Al Najjar, enrolled in California’s No. 1 ranked nursing practice-nurse anesthesia doctoral program.
Al Najjar and her family eventually left their homeland and spent a year in Turkey, where she learned a new language and adjusted to a different way of life. When she was 13, she and her family came to the U.S.
These childhood experiences made her more adaptable, empathetic and determined to provide patient-centered care.
“They prepared me for this path to become a nurse anesthetist,” she said. “I’ll be working in different settings, handling high-pressure situations and caring for patients feeling scared or out of place — feelings I understand.”
For her dedication to improving the lives of others through health care, Al Najjar is the recipient of the 2025-26 California State University Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. She was named a Hearst Foundations Scholar and is receiving a $14,000 scholarship.
“It’s an incredible honor. I’m grateful for all the opportunities CSUF has given me,” she said. “It validates the hard work and sacrifices I’ve made to reach this point.”
CSUF President Ronald Rochon noted that Al Najjar is committed to advocating for systemic improvements in health care.
“She fully embodies the values of the CSU Trustees’ Award — academic excellence, resilience, leadership and service,” Rochon said.
As a refugee who relied on community clinics, Al Najjar knows firsthand the importance of accessible health care. One of her earliest experiences in the U.S. was going to clinics for school vaccinations and physicals, deepening her desire to become a nurse.
“I was struck by how compassionate the nurses were to their patients. Those early interactions stuck with me,” she said.
Al Najjar graduated from CSUF in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in health science and went on to earn a master’s degree in nursing from UCLA. She practiced as a registered nurse at Riverside Community Hospital, which included managing nursing operations, before pursuing a doctorate to advance her career.
CSUF’s competitive nurse anesthesia doctoral program, offered in partnership with the Kaiser Permanente School of Anesthesia, was Al Najjar’s first choice.
Fajer Al Najjar shares why she chose Cal State Fullerton.
“My undergraduate experience at CSUF was overwhelmingly positive,” Al Najjar said. “I always felt supported by faculty, counselors and the broader campus community. Returning for my doctorate felt like the right choice.”
Al Najjar aspires to become a health care leader and make a difference in patient outcomes.
“Earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice equips me to do both,” she said. “This role combines advanced science, critical thinking and compassion. It requires staying calm under pressure while ensuring the patient receives the highest quality care.”
In her second year of the program, Al Najjar has begun clinical rotations, which includes training in hospital speciality areas such as cardiology, obstetrics and pediatrics. This fall, she works up to 12-hour days, three days a week on rotations, in addition to in-person and virtual classes.
“Being part of such a rigorous program has helped me grow more confident and prepared for the high-stakes nature of anesthesia patient care,” she said.